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Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund

The Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund is a Markham program that has funded innovative and leading environmental initiatives that contribute to the health of the natural environment since 2004.

The fund provides financial resources for projects in Markham that promote environmental responsibility and enhance the protection of the Markham's natural resources.

The purpose of the fund is to provide demonstrable, widespread, and lasting environmental benefits to the Markham community. In the last six years, over 45 community projects have been completed!

Organizations eligible to apply for the fund include:

other levels of government

public agencies

Markham community groups, such as Markham rate payers associations

Local Organizations, such as Conservation groups, Scouts groups, etc.

Other, such as NGOs, subject to conditions

Schools (3 per funding cycle and must be a Zero Waste School)

Schools can apply to the Waste Management Department for resources and staff assistance to become a Zero Waste School. For more information contact our Community Outreach Assistant, at 905-477-7000 extension 3399 or e-mail kdunsmoor@markham.ca.

Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund Requirements

Deadline: Application deadlines are in the spring and fall of each year. The fall deadline is September 15, 2017.

Step 3 Prepare your application and any supporting information, such as illustrations and maps and attach them to the application form. Sufficient and complete information must be provided with the application for the Environmental Issues Committee to make a decision.

2015 MESF Projects

This project engaged Markham residents in habitat creation and developed new environmental programs for the Markham Museum. New Canadian residents at the Markham North language centre learned about local wildlife and habitat during in-class lessons and field trips to the Markham Museum. During the winter and spring field trips, participants built backyard bird feeders, planted native wildflowers and toured habitat features highlighted by the Environmental GeoTour. Four educational toolkits were created for the Markham Museum, including hands on activities and lesson plans, to engage future visitors during summer camps, school visits and community events.

2014 MESF Projects

This project was part of a rehabilitation effort on the land along the East Don River within Pomona Mills Park. The project was aimed at planting native bare root shrub and tree species to prevent invasive species from infiltrating Pomona Mills Park and to provide habitat for wildlife. The plantings will also add tree cover that will eventually extend to the East Don River.

This self-guided educational geotour for families, school children and youth explores the greenest grounds at the Markham Museum. Markham residents use a “passport” (a how-to guide for the tour) and Global Positioning System device (GPS) provided by the Markham Museum to discover 15 environmental geocaches on the property which showcase the importance of gardening, biodiversity and water conservation. Visit the Markham Museum website to find out more about this program, which continues in 2014 until September.

2013 MESF Projects

This series of four workshops taught Markham residents how to implement Low Impact Development practices on their own properties. These workshops covered rain barrels, rain gardens, infiltration trenches and permeable paving, which all help to mitigate non-point source pollution, and reduce the chances of localized flooding and stream bank erosion.They were held at the Markham Museum, showcasing the Rain Garden Demonstration Project installed in 2012.

This project created a wheelchair accessible outdoor classroom space with rock seating and shade trees, as well as raised beds for a vegetable garden. Additional funding for this project was provided by TD Friends of the Environment, and donated supplies from local businesses.

2012 MESF Projects

This is a demonstration project to help residents learn about Low Impact Development (LID) techniques on their properties - for managing storm water runoff and protecting the quality of water that flows into local streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes. Plantings for the garden were completed this Fall and a grand opening planned for Spring 2013.

This project was to install native plants along the Civic Centre pond to enhance visitors' experience of the area and educate them about native plants and biodiversity. Species at risk, such as Dense Blazing Star were planted together with other plants, like Butterfly Milkweed, which is a food source for monarch butterflies, which are also a species at risk. Seeds from these plants will be distributed to the University of Guelph for propagation and expansion of their programs and as well to members of the North American Native Plant Society for planting in parklands throughout Markham.

2011 MESF Projects

With MESF funding and funding from the TD Friends of the Environment, as well as donated supplies from local businesses, the students, teachers and parents came together to build a rain garden and outdoor learning space in the courtyard at St Patrick’s Catholic School. This rain garden captures and reuses rain water which typically goes straight into the sewer system. Water harvested from the school roof is stored in a rain barrel and then used to feed water loving plants. This garden will serve as an outdoor classroom and learning opportunity for students.

This school includes classes and programs for special needs students. MESF funding has been used at James Robinson to undertake an organic waste audit and reduction program and to build a wheelchair accessible garden. Students now compost their food waste from their lunches then transfer that material to the sensory garden where they grow plants and vegetables. This teaches the children about the cycle of food and waste. The garden is also used as a means of stimulation and socialization for the special needs students.

2010 MESF Projects

Organized by Markham students, this conference was attended by over 300 students and teachers.

The goal of the Youth Ecological Action Conference, held in November, 2010, was to increase awareness about environmental issues in Markham and to help students develop and initiate environmental projects in their schools and the community.

This project featured:

guest speakers, including Canadian astronaut Dave Williams, who spoke about environmental issues and the power of youth

booths and interactive workshops informing the students on various environmental issues and methods for implementing change

The eco-team at David Suzuki Public School, which includes the teachers, caretakers, secretaries, administrators and students, applied for funding to build an outdoor classroom. The purpose of this project was to give students a chance to learn about their environment and the increasing native insect populations in the area, with a focus on butterflies. Funding was used to purchase native trees, vegetables and herbs. This project was an excellent opportunity to teach students and staff of David Suzuki Public School about the importance of native species and to raise environmental awareness.

This project was part of a habitat rehabilitation program which monitors, protects and rehabilitates habitat for redside dace, which is a provincially threatened species of fish in the Rouge River watershed. These fish have been declining due to habitat loss from urbanization and intensive land use. The project was aimed at restoring historical populations of the fish and creating additional habitat for existing populations.

The North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) is an organization dedicated to the study, conservation, cultivation, and restoration of North America's native flora and fauna. The Invasive Plant Awareness Program was developed with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Invasive species are non-native plants that grow aggressively, overtake natural areas and displace native plants. The purpose of this program was to increase awareness about invasive species through training sessions, guest speakers series, natural garden design workshops, and restoration events in Markham.

Ecowatch Canada and the York Rotary Club teamed up to provide an education program for students and parents on the importance of proper disposal of household batteries in an effort to keep harmful chemicals out of landfills. Batteries contain mercury, a harmful toxic chemical that damages the environment. Through this program, students were able to bring waste batteries to collection bins at schools where the batteries transported to Markham's Household Hazardous Waste Depot for safe disposal.